Plum tree vs aphids. Fruit next year?

[dilettante]

I've had a plum tree for three years. In the first year it had a couple of plums on. The last two years however, it has suffered horribly from aphids, which lead to curled leaves and the fruit that did set didn't survive long. I just couldn't get on top of them, but this year I bought in loads of ladybirds and ladybird larvae and they munched the lot in less than two weeks. It was a total transformation. Since then the tree has put on 6-12 inches of new growth, which had healthy, uncurled leaves.

Assuming I can manage the aphids next year, will it continue to grow healthily enough - it doesn't seem to have any other problems, and is it reasonable to hope for some fruit? The tree is getting on for 9 feet tall now, and it would be nice to get something edible from it.

[Jungle Jane]

Have you ever pruned the main branch,it seems tall for a 3 year old plum? If not,wait till June & you could trim it down to a more manageable height? It might help the tree put energy into fruit instead of growth? Or if it has been pruned of it's fruit bearing wood it can miss a year of fruit,the fruit grows on two year old wood or something?

[dilettante]

We have pruned it every year, I think. Inexpertly, I should add. It was actually chopped back pretty hard last year, else it would probably be even taller. The tallest branch has been pruned twice, I think, I assume that is the leader, but I'll have to have a proper look at it once the leaves are off and see what's happening.

[Jungle Jane]

I pruned mine quite hard a couple of years ago to get the shape,but it resulted in one fruit the following year,so I barely pruned it that season & the following year fruit was plenty,although the fruit needs thinning so they don't become biennial bearers.

[dilettante]

Last year I had assued that the bienniel fruit bearing was the reason for the lack of fruit. This year convinced me it was the aphids both this and last year. I've never heard about thinning fruit as a way to combat that, I'll have to give it a go, if we actually get any fruit next year. I'm feeling hopeful.